We’ve got quite the talent on TOD. Jacqueline composed and left this beautiful poem under a comment I had written about the picture of the white house highlighted in the post. I wanted it front paged because it is beautiful, wonderful, and phenomenal. I could never come up with a poem so well written and full of historical and emotional depth; so thank you Jacqueline. Thank you.

I am constantly amazed by the depth of graciousness and love I find here at the OD. I don’t comment often but I was here at the beginning and I look in everyday. You people are simply the best and it fills my heart to know there is a stronger good…..everyday fighting all the nasty. Much LUV!

This is an excellent summary by a Canadian professor who I follow on Twitter. He calls PBO a reluctant CiC and, based upon the article, I think he means in the sense that PBO is reluctant to use force, but will do so as a last resort, as opposed to some who thought of it as a fierst resort.

Nearly one month after the chemical weapons attack, the UN and the Security Council are finally engaged in a theater of war that has become a modern human tragedy. The ultimate goals of this new UN initiative promoted by the U.S.-Russia diplomatic framework should be to eliminate chemical weapons and possibly lead to a process to bring the civil war to an end. Obama may not win the style points, as he said, but if this agreement works out, history will judge it as a positive and determining development. In the meantime, the U.S. still keeps all its options on the table by including military intervention. Reluctance sometimes has its benefits.

In May, the President gave a major speech calling on Congress to repeal the “Authorization to Use Military Force” mandate. He asked them to scale back the authority which has been given the President to enter the country in conflict. Of course, they ignored him…called him weak and feckless.

But then he announced his intention to strike Syria and called on them to vote. What’s the first thing Congress did? They began rewinding his authority and passing all kinds of restrictive amendments. Few notice just how often he gets exactly what he asks for.

Oh no, I’m still at it. It’s always much better to do the hither, thither, and yon in the cool post-summer mornings. I did change my trail and have had #2 home to run with me. The new path is a for reals nature path and I’ve been stopped more than once by deer families crossing the path, blue herons sunbathing on fallen tree trunks across creek, rarely seen butterflies, and fist sized spiders who join in cheering us along.

Kudos to #2, without whose company, would have long since sent me running in the opposite direction. I love nature, but this trail is a tad too up close and personal. I much prefer the squirrels and other urban critters who have learned to scurry away, less they end up as road kill, or worse skewered on the grill.

Well, it sounds like you are hithering and tithering closer to home (versus N. Dakota – if I remember #1’s backyard correctly), so that suggests to me you are pulling in your nets. ;) I love nature too – when it’s not running in my direction. I confess the squirrels etc, that lend me my backyard are more likely to have me scurrying away, but I do understand exactly your comment about those other creatures on your new trail. Anyhoo (to quote you), it’s nice to see you strolling through a wee bit more often. (hint)

Yep, got to see where the buffalo roam….literally. I saw the Black Hills and walked the streets of where Teddy Roosevelt and all those ol’ wild, wild, western guys and gals were. Hung around in So. Dakota and saw the Presidents carved in the side of Mt Rushmore ((I’ve already picked out the spot next to Lincoln for PBO’s chiseling). I absolutely loved visiting #1 and her #s, but it is unequivocally confirmed that I am indeed a city girl.

Yes, I live in the suburbs and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m close enough to spend a nite out on the town, take in the cultural art stuffs, enjoy the city offerings, yet still be home in time to sleep in my own bed with or without a hangover, and awaken to the twirpin’ and a chirpin’ of the birdies on my windowsill. #bestofbothworlds

It’s not only the US where we’re facing idiots in positions of power. This is a story about library closures in Scotland.

The figures for the seven libraries earmarked for closure showed a decline was almost 16%, while in Dufftown it was 18%.

“That is a trend I am confident will continue and accelerate as modern electronic readers become commonplace. It is the elderly who are the greatest users of libraries so the usage figures in time can only go down further.”

But Mike Shand, the SNP councillor for Elgin, said the administration was displaying “staggering arrogance and ignorance.”

Shorter Scottish councilor: “Old people are the only ones using libraries. Soon they’ll be gone. Weeeee!!”

Okay, I am in my 60’s, so maybe I qualify. But I love to read, like 2-3 books per week, and if I had to buy them, I would be in trouble. And I still prefer the feel of paper in my hands so I won’t use a tablet to read. Our local library is one of the biggest and best in the Chicago suburbs and it is always full of people of all ages, using it for research, just down time or whatever. Plus libraries have done a great job of being a location for special activities that would not be available anywhere else.

Okay…….I have used public libraries for 68 years……since I was five years old and walked to my library in the park in Chicago. I LOVE libraries, and like japa said, I rely on them for books…real paper books. I could not afford to buy the amount of books I read, and would never find the variety any other way. Much of my reading is almost random…..what’s on the “What’s new” shelf always draws me. The attitude expressed in that man’s words is reprehensible.
Jacqueline, what a beautiful poem. Please do copyright it. You don’t want to lose it, and have someone plagiarize it…..(always a concern of English professors)

Love that video, PBO’s empathy, intelligence and compassion on full display. we are so lucky to have him represent the best of america. I’m into it deep on facebook with some righties and I am going to tear them up one side and down the other. so sick of all this faux outrage from people that didn’t vote for PBO, don’t like PBO, vote republican and then think they can turn around and offer criticism that he isn’t cleaning up the GOPs leftover mess fast enough! the nerve of some people is really amazing.

I hope you don’t mind the repeat LP – I posted the video downthread not realizing you already had it covered!!! This is an eXCELLENT reminder of who this President is and why he is in the right place at the right time.

OMG, JB, that is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read. I am in tears, so full of emotion! I am so honored to be a part of this wonderful community. There are so many wonderful, talented, compassionate people here.

Honestly, Africa, there’s no level on which this statement makes any sense. There isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t want yesterday back because maybe the terrible tragedy at the Navy Yard could have been prevented and more people would be alive today. Every time something horrendous happens, it’s human nature to want to turn make the clock and make things better. If these people mean anything else by this, than they are just too dumb to take seriously.

JOB, the extent of your talents, the fierceness of your spirit and the depth of your insights never fail to amaze me. Your poem touches our hearts because it comes from your heart and it’s truth reaches out to us. I know are a mother and grandmother and have had a fairly long working career, but I suspect your retirement has been a kind of renaissance for you. Freed from the everyday tasks of child rearing and the long days of pleasing others in your work, you are coming into your own now–free to express yourself, to fight, to dream in new ways. It’s such a privilege that you and so many other incredibly talented and intelligent people share all that richness with all of us. Bless you.

WHITE HOUSE AUDIO & CHARTS: CABINET MEMBERS TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE RECOVERY.

Five years after the financial crisis

———————————

In the early hours of September 15, 2008 Lehman Brothers announced it would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, setting off shock waves through the global economy — ultimately shrinking the economy by more than 10 percent and costing us more than 800,000 jobs a month with devastating implications for families and businesses.

There’s no diminishing the severity of the challenge we’ve overcome together, and we’ve got a lot more work to do to rebuild an economy where everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead. Learn more about how you can help to build on this progress. Or download the report: The Financial Crisis: Five Years Later.

But five years after Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, we want to help everyone get the context and see the full picture. To mark the anniversary, we’ve asked senior staff from across the Obama administration to sit down and talk about the moments when key decisions were made — the factors they weighed, the results of the actions that President Obama took. Check out a behind-the-scenes look of the decision-making process that you won’t find anywhere else.

Interesting tidbit from wiki….
Stengel is married to Mary Pfaff, a native of South Africa. They have two sons.[7] The couple met while Stengel was in South Africa working on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography and Mandela is godfather to their oldest son, Gabriel

Shooter having auditory hallucinations. Very likely a Paranoid Schizophrenic, untreated. In the earlier days of my career as a mental health counselor I was the crisis services specialist and commitment investigator for a small county in Oregon. Persons with this profile, auditory, possibly command hallucinations, with guns, and a history of violence. Great person to hire as a Defense contractor.

Alleged Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis was able to enlist in the Navy in 2007, despite an earlier shooting incident in which he claimed to have “blacked out” — a record which normally might have disqualified him for military service.

But at the time, the Navy and the other military services were struggling to reach their wartime recruiting goals, and were granting thousands of waivers to potential recruits with criminal backgrounds.

After 2003, as combat in Iraq and Afghanistan began to cool public enthusiasm for military service, the practice of granting waivers mushroomed.

In 2007, the year that the Navy accepted Alexis into its ranks, the military services together enlisted 909 recruits with felony convictions, including burglary, grand larceny, aggravated assault, child molestation, narcotics possession and arson, according to Defense Department data provided to Congress.

Lowered the standards to where there were no standards—–in order to meet enlistment goals. Remember reading stories about recruiters going to prisons for recruits, allowing an early out for those willing to enlist. Gang signs started showing up in Iraq and Aryan nation signs—-skinhead and neo-Nazis encouraged to enlist to get military training for “the coming race war”. Those with felonies on their records were welcomed, and gang members were shipping military arms home—-for future use and for their gangs back home. Bush/Rumsfeld wrecked the military—–started to learn about multiple rape cases and criminal activity and disgusting behavior as well about those with mental instability who were a danger to themselves and fellow soldiers. What a disaster that admin. was.

Have you seen this? I know it links to Huff N Puff, but it looks like, yup, you guessed it, Bush’s fault. Seems as though during the liars’ war in Iraq in 2007 when things were looking bad for the cowboy, he had the military lift bans on recruits who had certain types of criminal records in order to increase enlistments. 2007 is when Alexis was admitted to the Navy reserves! The damage of the 8 years of the war criminals is stunning. And our trusted and honest PBO has to keep fighting to fix it all the while taking the blame due to the corporate media shills who will never report the truth. Is anyone taking up the fight to get Chuckie T off the air over at NBC after his “reporting” yesterday? I hate that little thin-skinned punk! Take a look at the video and article about the criminal enlistment waivers back in ’07………..l.l.ll.ll

UT – Just getting back here and … whoa! I read the title of the post and – swear to God – I thought, “that sounds familiar.” Ha! You have honored me so much, although this poem was really just for you, reflective of the lovely comment you had made about the image.

Thanks everyone else for your words, which touched me deeply! No copyright intended or needed – that comment from some of you was honor enough.

If I knew how to show the emoticon for “blushing,” I’d use it here _________ .

Donna – I don’t want to gum up the thread by thanking each person for each individual sweet comment, although I appreciated the time everybody took, but you and I go way back to your Baby O’ days, and I really must say this made me breathless! Thanks, sugar.

The U.S. House will take up H.R. 3102, a proposal that, among other things, would end state waivers for able-bodied adults who don’t have dependents but receive food stamps. Mothers with preschool children would also face tougher work requirements under the proposed “Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act.”

The new work rules would be part a plan to overhaul the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

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Isn’t this a catch-22? The reason some of these able bodied adults need food stamps is because they CAN’T find a job…thanks in part to this same crackerjack Congress not even trying to pass a jobs bill.

What ho TOD Peeps, just had to come here briefly to vent and to express my deepest thanks for TOD’s existence.

And under the heading “ TOD IS MY SCECRET WEAPON TO COUNTERACT BULLSHIT ON A DAILY BASIS”: Some of you may or may not know that I’m an attorney; in house “cop” for a financial services firm. Unlike in the media, in the financial services industry, there are regulations prohibiting advisors from publishing flat out lies in any communication with the public. Facts must be used (imagine that) and substantiated from legitimate sources and documented in the piece itself. Any opinion or speculation must be identified as such, not passed off as fact. And forget about just trying to present “one side” as if that’s the only side; nope, not gonna happen. Plus any communication has to be pre-approved by someone like me before it can be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. Well I’ve spent the last 24 hours beating an advisor about the head (figuratively speaking of course :smile:) by rejecting and revising multiple re-iterations of a draft market commentary that was full of so much crap,hyperbole and rank speculation about Bernanke’s possible replacement and the debt ceiling and gov’t shutdowns and the purported WWW III like effects it would have on the global markets, that it was just beyond the pale.

Thankfully, I was able to come here and find clips and articles counteracting all the bs. Showing how the laughable MSand pathetic MSM been WRONG time and time again; plus prove that one of her “sources” was a right wing think tank.. Jeebus! Once we finally got to a compliant version that could be published, the advisor thanked me profusely for not allowing crap and lies to go out under her name. She realized how much better the piece was because it contained, you know, FACTS!!!

A million thanks TOD. Once again, a lifesaver!!….

P.S.:Thanks also for that lovely poem jacquelineoboomer ;it’s calmed me down considerably……. :smile:

Off I go… educatin’ fools…. one fool at time….. Inhale, Exhale Woosah.

I’m tiffed that the President of Brazil would cancel a STATE freakin’ visit because she’s still miffed about NSA. I’m sure PBO talked to her about it at the G-20 and he spent 20 minutes with her on the phone trying to convince to come but she refused. ARGH!

Me too meta. She has to know what all goes into preparing for a state visit and dinner in the guest’s honor. I can’t help but wonder why she would use the NSA issue to renege. It’s not like it’s a secret that all countries have an NSA of some capacity or another.

This cancellation will ease the president’s fall quite a bit. She is foolish to cancel, but she is in trouble at home. Remember the riots in Sao Paulo and Rio…..she was close to being on her way out. This was scheduled a short time after the President’s Asia visit…..maybe he’ll have a few days to recoup!!!
Do I ever hope Chuck Toad is not going on that trip!!!!

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has ordered the National Guard to stop processing requests for military benefits for same-sex couples, her office confirmed Tuesday, despite a Pentagon directive to do so.

Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said the governor was following the wish of Oklahoma voters, who approved a constitutional amendment in 2004 that prohibits giving benefits of marriage to gay couples.

“Because of that prohibition, Gov. Fallin’s general counsel has advised the National Guard not to process requests for benefits of same-sex couples,” Weintz said. “Gay couples that have been legally married in other states will be advised they can apply for those benefits on federal facilities, such as Tinker Air Force Base, rather than state run facilities.”

Ms. Jacquline,
Thank you for the beautiful poem. I am just catching up and what a day, but reading this made this whole day more than worth while.
I cannot tell you how this helps me to settle into a place of pure bliss.
I pray that our President gets a chance to read this when days like yesterday ay and more days to come will give him the peace, strength and courage to press on.
Thank you.

Your soul is beautiful. Your heart is kind. Your mind is peaceful.
I am so glad that you are here.

TOD’s verify own poet laureate, our very own Jaquelineobomer. Your poem is awe inspiring and a lovely tribute to the slaves that built the WH and the current occupants President Obama and family who know the historic significance and have passed it on to the children in the family. Thank you JO for your lovely poem.